Ceres FC goalkeeper Muller takes a leave

AFTER a successful 2017 Season, Fil-German goalkeeper Roland Muller will take a leave from Ceres Negros FC. In his post, Muller said that six months ago, he already informed the club that he will take a leave at the end of the season. “I want to be with my wife and support her pregnancy. This will be my new chapter – priority, family first,” he said. Muller also said that their success in Ceres FC didn’t just happen. “We worked hard every day for it, respected and took care of each other from our bus driver to our coaches – everything matched together. Small details made the difference,” he said. “Our work is done. It’s the biggest success for a Philippine club and I have been so happy to be part of it. Again, thank you Ceres FC, Bacolod fans and the Philippines for the beautiful memories,” he added.

Ceres FC team manager James Dinsay confirmed Muller’s statement, saying that Muller really decided to stop first and focus on his family. “I don’t have any idea yet how long he will be out, but the club will build a team for next season that can compete with international clubs. There will be changes in the team, but not a lot. Only a few and we will make an announcement when everything is final,” he added.

Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/sports/2017/12/23/ceres-fc-goalkeeper-muller-takes-leave-581090

Azkals fall in FIFA World Rankings

By: Ray Charlie Diaz

THE ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) released the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) world rankings last Thursday with a disappointing result for the Philippine Azkals, dropping to second from being top-ranked last month among Southeast Asian nations.

Vietnam is now in the 112th spot, rising 13 spots and surpassing the Azkals, who declined six spots to finish the year at the 124th place.

Thailand rose two spots to rank 130th and retaining its third place among Southeast Asian nations.

Myanmar, one of the biggest movers, climbed 10 spots to 140th but remained 4th place in the region.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/158363/azkals-fall-fifa-world-rankings#ixzz522Sw5jlE 

Global Cebu fc midfielder transfers to Pattaya United

By: Ray Charlie Diaz

PHILIPPINES Football League (PFL) runner up Global Cebu FC will lose a key player after Filipino-Japanese wingman Hikaru “Pika” Minegishi decided to play for Thai football club Pattaya United Blue Dolphins.

The midfield ace will now be playing in the premier division of Thailand’s Thai League 1 (T1) commonly referred to as the Toyota Thai League.

“Thank you for everything. I had a little bit regret in season. But it’s okay. This is football life and my life,” Minegishi posted on Instagram last Wednesday. “The next season must make more efforts not to be sorry.”

In early 2015, the 26-year-old midfielder signed a contract with Global Cebu FC after fellow Fil-Jap Daisuke Sato invited him to play for the club.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/158243/global-cebu-fc-midfielder-transfers-pattaya-united#ixzz51wRjH5mY

Iloilo booters gear up for PFL

By Olmin Leyba

MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo, considered one of the country’s football hotbeds, wasn’t part of the inaugural season of the Philippines Football League. But for next year, Iloilo will possibly get its representation in the eight-team league.

“There’s one team (from the current roster) that’s going to go to Iloilo,” Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta told The STAR.

In the just-concluded PFL season, the cities represented were Negros (eventual champ Ceres), Cebu (runner-up Global), Manila (third placer Meralco), Makati (Kaya), Marikina (JPV), Laguna (Stallion), Ilocos (Ilocos United) and Davao (Aguilas).

“I can’t divulge right now (which among the teams) but they’ll go to Iloilo to tap the fan base there and that will really make it national in nature,” Araneta said.

The maiden season of the PFL was played over seven months on a home-and-away format, culminating in a Finals series capped off by Ceres’ 4-1 win over Global in a livewire championship at Panaad in Bacolod.

“It was a good final game even though it was raining but the field was okay, the game was very exciting. We hope to ride on the success for next year and hopefully we’ll get more sponsors,” said Araneta.

Among the main areas of concern for PFL’s second season are the venues hosting the fixtures and the need to attract more sponsorship.

“Of course, the venues need to be improved on, like UMAK (University of Makati). JPV, which plays its home games in Stallion’s venue, should have its own home, which is very important for the league,” the PFF chief said.

“Since we didn’t have enough sponsors this year, we just tried to work on a tight budget. Hopefully the sponsors will come next year so we can expand the personnel to make it more professional,” he added.

Araneta proudly reported that the PFF received an award for league development from the Asian Football Confederation after launching the PFL.

“We’re able to conduct a series of seminars for the teams, workshops with the support of the AFC (to complement the birth of the PFL),” he said.

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2017/12/20/1769983/iloilo-booters-gear-pfl

Busy year ahead for PH football

By: Cedelf P. Tupas 

BACOLOD CITY—Bracing for a busy year ahead, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has approved a P167 million budget for projects and programs for 2018, when the men and women’s national teams play in big international tournaments.

PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said that while the federation will continue receiving subsidy from the International Football Federation (Fifa), Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Asean Football Federation (AFF), it would still need to raise about P32 million from other sources to meet the budgetary requirements.

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The budget proposal was approved during the PFF Congress at L’Fisher Hotel here over the weekend.

The bulk of the budget, Araneta said, would go to the technical department, which covers grassroots and age-group teams, and the national teams.

The construction of a new football center inside the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, was also included in the budget along with the installation of the floodlights for the PFF National Training Center field.

For their international campaigns, the Azkals will need P58 million as they try to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in March.

The Azkals are also seeing action in the AFF Suzuki Cup late in 2018.

Araneta said that P15 million will be allotted for the Malditas, who will vie in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan in April.

“It will be a busy year for us next year,” said Araneta. “We’re hoping to raise more funds for our programs.”

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/276215/busy-year-ahead-ph-football#ixzz51eou4VLN

Ceres-Negros rips Global Cebu, wins 1st PFL crown

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

BACOLOD CITY – Add one more historic feat for Ceres-Negros in a year already full of glorious moments.

Ruthless on the counterattack, the Busmen demolished rival Global Cebu, 4-1, last Saturday night to wrest the first Philippines Football League crown in front of a lively crowd at Panaad Stadium here.

National team standout Iain Ramsay delivered a hat trick after Spanish striker Bienvenido Maranon opened the scoring four minutes into the match as the Busmen came up with a performance to remember against a worthy foe.

The victory capped an impressive year for the Busmen, who also made history last August when they ruled the AFC Cup Asean zonal championship at the expense of Singapore’s Home United at Panaad.

The Busmen relied on quick counterattacks to pick apart a Global side that looked a step slow right from the get-go. For a change, Ceres allowed Global to settle into the match early before hitting the Cebu side on the counter.

Ramsay found space on the left before teeing up Maranon inside the area. The Spanish striker’s volley past Patrick Deyto not only opened the scoring, but gave the Ceres star his 22nd goal of the season.

Almost immediately, Global threatened with a long-range effort from Rufo Sanchez, whose shot rattled the crossbar.

Another quick counter in the 20th minute opened up a golden opportunity, this time, for Ramsay to tuck home from close range to double the lead.

Ramsay made it 3-0 on the night with another precise finish in the area as the Busmen moved on the cusp of glory.

Just after the hour mark, Ramsay grabbed his hat trick after he was set up by the returning Patrick Reichelt inside the area.

Daryl Roberts pulled a goal back for Global in the 89th minute, but it only delayed the inevitable as Ceres made history in front of more than 2,200 spectators that included Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/276044/ceres-negros-rips-global-cebu-wins-1st-pfl-crown#ixzz51TBoG6Ng

Ceres, Global chase football history

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

BACOLOD CITY—It doesn’t get any bigger than this for Philippine club football.

Two clubs that have won every major trophy in the country the past three years—Ceres Negros and Global Cebu—seek to make history on Saturday when they dispute the first Philippines Football League title at 6 p.m. at Panaad Stadium here.

The Busmen are looking to end an incredible year with another trophy after winning the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asean zonal championship last September.

But with a squad decimated by injuries and suspensions, coach Risto Vidakovic’s side face a difficult task of overcoming a Global side that stunned top seed Meralco Manila in the semifinals last weekend.

“We don’t have the pressure, rather we have the pleasure of playing here in Bacolod,” said Ceres defender Martin Steuble. “We’re confident. It’s one game and for 90 minutes, we just have to do our best.”

Ceres’ strength lies in its depth as the Busmen have survived a gruelling season and a tough AFC Cup campaign to put themselves in a position to win their first domestic trophy since ruling the United Football League in 2015.

“Throughout the season, our team has suffered injuries, but the team has delivered good results,” said Steuble.

Ceres and Global split their four meetings this season.

The match coincides with the Philippine Football Federation Congress in the city, where PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta will present his plans and projects for 2018.



Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/275927/ceres-global-chase-football-history#ixzz51NC4j3GL

PFL Final Series

Livestream :

Fc Meralco MAnila vs Kaya Fc MAkati

https://mycujoo.tv/philippine-football-federation?id=11780